Chipotle cheddar. Dulce de leche Oreos. Lime-flavored beer.

Companies have found that Latin-inspired foods not only resonate with Hispanics - at 14 percent of the population now the nation's largest minority - but also make a splash with mainstream consumers ever on the prowl for new and exciting flavors.

"Latin flavors are hot, and they're hot across all market segments," says Bill Briwa, an instructor at the Culinary Institute of America who notes that the rise of Hispanic flavors has been sudden and fast. A decade ago, chipotle was virtually unknown in the mainstream.